Current actuated switch for cash register



United States Patent O 3,412,395 CURRENT ACTUATED SWITCH FOR CASHREGISTER Ralph E. Kiene, Jr., 3004 W. 71st, Prairie Village, Kans. 66208Filed Jan. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 520,557 7 Claims. (Cl. 340-421) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE This application relates to the operation of a displaydevice connected to a cash register. The display device is connected toa supply source through relay contacts, The relay is operated inresponse to current being supplied to the motor of the cash register.

This invention relates to the control of illuminated advertising signsand/ or alarms, and refers more particularly to current operatedswitching units for use with such signs or alarms in conjunction withelectric cash registers.

There has long been a demand on the part of sellers of goods to retailstores, bars, and restaurants for some etiective means by which anilluminated or audible display device could be connected with and ashedon by each operation of the conventional electric cash register. Inaddition, the owners or operators of such establishments have, on manyoccasions, expressed need for a simple device which could service andoperate a remotely located visual or audible device in response tooperation of the cash register. Various types of display signs and/ oralarms have been suggested; however, all known designs, which includetiashing lights, buzzers, horns, bells and pop-up signs, etc., call formechanical or electrical linkages integral with the cash registersthemselves. For example, some systems include a special operating key,as a part of a conventional cash register keyboard, for eitherenergizing or deenergizing an electrical circuit prior to opening thecash register drawer. `Other arrangements employ pressure sensitiveswitches o-r pre-conditioned switches which are either opened or closedaccording to the relative physical position of the drawer of the cashregister, In every instance, some modification or pre-arrangement ofelectrical or mechanical components, integrally associated with the cashregister, must be made before the device can be utilized.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an unique means forexternal connection with an electric cash register and capable ofautomatically displaying an advertising sign, plurality of signs, or tosound an alarm, at a predetermined point in the operational routine ofthe cash register.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rugged, inexpensive,compact, current-actuated switching unit whose operation isautomatically initiated from the current drawn by an electric cashregister motor. It is an important feature of the invention that theswitching unit shall be utilized for energizing display or alarmequipment and that said unit requires absolutely no modification ofeither the electrical or mechanical components of the existing cashregister in order that it may be optimally utilized therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means, havinga minimum of moving parts, for initiating the remote energization ofdisplay equipment in accordance with the on condition of an electriccash register motor and for maintaining the energized state of saiddisplay equipment for a pre-set and variable time period after saidmotor is oti. Accordingly, the displayed equipment may be regularlyenergized over a prolonged period of time and will require a minimalamount of adjustment, supervision and replacement parts.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a switching unit,of the character described, which includes a means for connectingelectrically operated display equipment to a conventional power supplyand maintaining the connection for a selected time interval, therebyeliminating any need for independent power sources or equipment.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the featuresof novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of the specification andis to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. l is a perspective view illustrating the switch unit as housed andshowing the associated equipment utilized therewith; and

FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of a typical unit embodyingthe invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the electrical circuitry and generalmanner of operation of the unit incorporating the features of theinvention will be described in connection with the schematic diagramconstituting FIG. 2. In this figure, reference numerals 10 and 11represent a pair of conductors which we will assume are plugged into orotherwise connected to a conventional volt, 60-cycle AC basic supplysource. Conductor 10 is connected from the supply source throughresistance R, fuse F, to one side of an intermittent motor load,generally represented by the numeral 12, It is contemplated that thisintermittent motor load be the type that is generally associated with anelectrically operated cash register. In other words, load 12 will not beacross conductors 10 and 11 until the operator of the cash registeractivates the appropriate switch or key making the momentaryacross-the-line connection. The usual on time for the conventional cashregister electric motor is approximately one second. The opposite sideof intermittent motor load 12 is connected by conductor 11 and back tothe basic supply source. When load 12 is not assuming theacross-the-line characteristic, conductors 10 and 11 are open circuitedunless a subsequent load has been appropriately applied thereto.

A direct current operated sensitive type relay 13 is connected acrossresistance R through a conventional toggle switch 14 and rectifier 15.Relay 13 is shunted by the parallel resistancecapacitance combinationshown by the variable resistor `16 and capacitor C. Normally open relaycontact 17 is closed by the energization of relay 13.

The conductors 18 and 19 are connected across the basic supply sourceconductors 10 and 11, respectively. These conductors, 18 and 19, connectthe power source to the display equipment when normally open contact 17in conductor 18 is in the closed position due to the energization ofrelay 13.

The portion of FIG. 2 shown within broken line 20, and hereinafterreferred to as the switching unit, is housed within the casing generallyshown at numeral 21 in FIG. 1. The main body of housing 21 comprises ashell 22, preferably of drawn aluminum, having five enclosed sides.Plate 23 forms the sixth side and is removably affixed 4to shell 22 by aconventional screw 24 in order to give access to the switching unitmounted therein. The on-off toggle switch 14 extends through the top ofshell 22 and provides a means for either connecting or disconnectingcurrent operated relay 13 located within. The fuse F is likewise locatedon the top exterior of shell 22. A knurled knob 16a extends from one endportion of shell 22 and provides a means for setting the resistance ofvariable resistance 16. A conventional socket 25 is snugly fitted intoan aperture in the top of shell 22 allowing the display equipment,diagrammatically represented by the electrically illuminated sign 26 anda typical two-pronged plug 26a, to be connected thereto by inserting theplug in Ithe socket. This plug-in attachment results in sign 26 beingconnected, by conductors 18 and 19, through normally open contact 17 tothe power source represented by conductors 10 and 11. It should beunderstood that sign 26 could take on many other forms, either visual oraudible, and the only requirement is that it be electrically operated.

Socket 27 is similarly al'lixed in shell 22 so that its receptacleportions extend outwardly of the end opposite knurled knob 16a. Socketor outlet 27 provides the means for connecting 'the cash register cord27a thereto and thusly the intermittent load 12 to the primary sourcerepresented by conductors 10 and 11. As seen in FIG. 2, this plug-inattachment, diagrammatically made between fuse F and .load 12, connectsthe intermittent motor load through the switching unit 20 to the source.

In readying the sign for operation, the power line 10, 11 is pluggedinto an appropriate convenience outlet (not shown) or other availablesource of power, the cash register cord is plugged into socket 27 andthe sign cord into socket 25. Toggle switch 14 is shifted to the ONposition, if not already there. Since the relay contact 17 is normallyopen, and since the cash register is normally quiescent, no currentordinarily will flow into the line to the display equipment.

Any time thereafter that the cash register is operated, motor load 12 isapplied to lines 10, 11 and current flows therethrough, although foronly a very short period, normally in the nature of a second. With motorload 12 across lines 10 and 11, current is owing from line 10 throughthe load to line .11. The current flow in line 10 through `resistance Rdevelops a voltage across resistance R. This voltage is rectied byrectier 15 and results in suicient DC current ow through the currentoperated relay 13 that normally open contact 17 is now pulled in orclosed. The closing of contact 17 immediately energizes the displayequipment.

As mentioned above, load 12 is only momentarily connected across lines10 and 11 and therefore it is .desirable to provide some means forholding contact 17 closed in order to maintain the energized state ofthe display equipment for an interval longer than the one second ON timeof load 12. The discharge of capacitor C supplies current to relay 13 sothat the display equipment may remain ON even though the motor load hassubsequently been open-Circuited. The rectied current flowing throughdiode ,16 charges capacitor C to a potential equal to voltage developedacross resistor R. When load 12 is no longer across the line, thevoltage across resistor R drops, causing the capacitor to discharge andthe current through relay 13 to decay at an exponential rate. The rateof decay is controlled -by the variable resistance 16 so that the timeinterval between start of decay and the eventual opening of contact 17may be increased or decreased depending upon the resistive value set inthe variable resistor.

After the pre-set time interval has lapsed, contact 17 returns to itsnormally open position and the display equipment is accordinglydisconnected. This procedure is repeated as often as dictated by thecondition of load 12. Modifications are possible, such as havingparallel connected display devices and/or switching units with the timeintervals staggered to allow sequential deenergization of a plurality ofdisplay devices.

While the invention has been explained in conjunction with a displaysign, it will be evident that an electrically energizable alarm or otherappliance can be just as well connected with the switching unit in placeof the sign. Moreover, either the sign or alarm can be stationed at alocation qui-te remote from the cash register, making it possible tovisually or audibly determine the fact of operation of the cash registerfrom any desired vantage point, concealed or unconcealed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen thatthis invention is one welladapted to attain all o f the ends and objects hereinbefore set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are ofutility and may `be employed without reference to other features andsu'bcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

Inasmuch as various possible embodiments of the invention may be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood thatall matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination in an electrically operated switching system,

a cash register having 'an electric motor of the type that isintermittently and momentarily connected across an electrical powersource,

[an electrically operated normally deenergized display circuit,

means including a current responsive means for connecting said circuitto said power source, said means being operated in response to saidmotor being connected across said power source,

said connecting means thereby causing the energization of said displaycircuit, and

means for maintaining the energization of said circuit for `a pre-setperiod after said motor has been disconnected from said power source.

2. The invention in claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes acurrent actuated relay having a normally open contact in said circuit,said relay being connected between said source and said electrical-motor through a -rectier, said rectifier operable to supply sufiicientcurrent to said relay upon the connection of said motor with said powersource to close said normally open contacts thereby connecting saiddisplay circuit to said power source.

3. The invention in claim 2 wherein said relay is shunted by -acapacitor and a variable resistor, said capacitor operable to be chargedby the current ow from said rectifier upon said con-nection of saidmotor with said power source and to discharge through said relay whensaid motor is disconnected from said power source, said capacitor`discharge thereby -maintaining said normally yopen contacts closed fora pre-set time period, said variable lresistor operable to control therate of decay of said capacitor thereby causing said pre-set time periodto be variable.

4. A current operated switching unit for use with electric cash registermotors, said motors being of the type that are intermittently andmomentarily switched from 'an OFF to an ON condition as a normaloperating function of the electric cash register controlling said motor,said unit comprising Ian electrical connector for connecting said unitwith a source of electrical power,

an electrically operated normally deenergized display circuit,

means including a current responsive means for connecting said circuitto said power source said means being operated in response to said motorbeing switched to said 4momentary ON condition Iand thereby energizingsaid display circuit, and

means for maintaining the energization of said circuit for a pre-setperiod after said motor has been switched to the OFF condition.

5. The invention in claim -4 wherein said connecting means includes acurrent-actuated relay having a normally open contact in said circuit,said relay being connected between said source and said motor through arectifier, said rectifier operable to supply suflicient rectifiedcurrent to said relay upon switching said motor to the ON condition toclosevsaid normally open cont-acts, thereby connecting said displaycircuit `to said power source.

6. The invention in claim 4 wherein said relay is shunted by a capacitorland a variable resistor, said capacitor operable to be charged bythecurrent ow from said rectifier upon said switching of said motor to theON condi-tion and to discharge through said rel-ay when said motor isswitched to the OFF condition, said `capacitor discharge therebymaintaining said normally open contacts closed for a pre-set ytimeperiod, said Variable resistor operable to control the rate of decay ofsaid capacitor thereby causing said pre-set time period to be variable.

6 7. The invention in claim 4 wherein said unit is mounted within aunitary housing, said housing being structurally independent of saidcash register.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,360 1/1937 Van Deventer etal. 40-319 2,912,685 11/1959 Thomas 340-377 3,067,411 12/1962 Dhimos317-141 X EUGENE G. BOTZ, Prm'aly Examiner.

